Guild Wars 2

The concept of WvWvW commanders isn’t one I’m down with in general, ie: if someone pulls together 100 gold, they get a commander icon above their head, and start trying to tell everyone else what to do in WvWvW, even though gathering 100 gold isn’t /any/ indication that someone’s good at leading others. But, what the heck, I live with it.

What is really starting to annoy me, however, is commanders using their icon outside of WvWvW. Why? It seems to me that the icon is being used as a status symbol in PvE, towns, etc, where it plays absolutely no function. I, for one, would appreciate the icon being usable in WvWvW situations only. After all, that’s what it’s designed for, right?

It’s not designed for WvW situations only. It is incredibly useful for leading large event chains, and making large parties *outside* of WvW.

If you see it being used as a status symbol, simply remind yourself that 100g is a few hours of real world work, gem store, and currency exchange, and that anyone, even a homeless person buying alcohol for underage people, can come up with the real world money to buy it in a very short period of time.

I would like to see an option to turn it off (or is there an option already?)

Jemmi, there is. Even in WvWvW you can turn it off. However, folk don’t use it. They prefer to stand around in towns with it showing which, I’m sorry, Nels the Cornwhisperer, that just isn’t a valid use for it. There’s no other excuse for it besides, “Look at me!”

I meant an option for me to turn it off so I do not see them, not an option for them to turn it off

Yes, people stand in towns an think it makes them look special. That’s hardly a reason to destroy the best mechanic we have for actually getting the little crossed swords off of every waypoint in Orr on a lower population server.

If you are really so put off by blue dots and the two or three people that don’t turn them off in Lions Arch, you should probably find a way around it, like never look at the mini-map.

Jemmi, now THAT is a great idea. I would love that ability, too, so I could totally ignore the, “Look at me!” brigade.

Sadly, it has yet to exist. Here’s hoping it will happen one day.

I could get by a way for you to toggle it on/off for just yourself. Simply put it in the menu where every other icon is currently toggled on/off in the corner of your map. Then people actually using it could still use it, and people who don’t want to see it don’t have to. Sounds like a win/win.

That solves seeing it on the map, sure. Top marks.

But it doesn’t solve having to look at it, above some loon, posing in the middle of Lion’s Arch.

And, like I said in the OP, the ability to buy these things doesn’t mean the person’s a good leader anyway.

I find the whole thing a bit flawed.

Initially the Commander book was great at 100g. Many guild pooled resources to buy one for a (hopefully) strong leader. However, now as the game has matured, there are fewer strong leaders with blue “Look-at-me” icons and more loons.

It was previously stated by Anet that they would adjust the costs of the Commanders Compendium to deal with saturation and I’m pretty sure that time is now. Sorry for the tangent.

I really would like an option to hide that icon though, maybe /ignore Lookatme!!1 would make it go away? It would be highly useful to be able to hide them by person, rather than all or nothing.

I agree with being able to turn it off from my end. It didn’t bother me to see it for no reason a month ago – now its starting to get annoying.

Awhile back I made a thread in regards to giving people an option to toggle the icon on their maps. I have recently obtained the Commander title and still stick by that suggestion. Some people don’t care to see it, simply because it’s none of their concern.

I will say this though. After a few days of running around and doing events, I’ve found that it is incredibly handy to getting the help necessary for more difficult events. If it’s one thing people can struggle with in this game, it’s being in an area that has little to no activity and having to take on a champion all by yourself. I doubt Anet is going to change our ability to solo high-level events, as grouping and community is the foundation of the game.

My point is that everyone should be treating the icon as a marker for which one can possibly get help to complete something they otherwise can’t do. There’s no reason to feel as if the people who have it are supposed to be “special”. They’re just there to help. Although, I have seen my share of. . . . . strict individuals. . . . maybe an ignore list is in order?

I really wish there was a way to turn those kitten commander icons off on my map… I don’t care for them at all and almost never do any events where those players are involved in the first place (especially in places like LA where I can see like 3-5 of them at almost any given time…)

I don’t pay any attention to anything a “commander” says, in WvW or out. It’s such a stupid, overly abused system. Something like this should have to be earned with a LOT of success in WvW, not just bought.

It has been abused so much that it started to annoy me. A selective turn off feature would be nice. Those who use it with care turn it off anyway when it’s not needed. The rest just hops around with it. On our server some commanders are misleading the pack in events on purpose, so that events fail, then they spam map chat with it. Yes, that has been reported. It’s just getting out of hand, so I don’t really wanna follow a commander anymore because it might just be one of those little trolls. That kinda defeats the purpose of the sign.
I’d like to be able to turn it off / ignore it for certain players.

I would like to see the icon removed outside of WvW as well, or the option to not display it on my interface at a bare minimum. In the past I have spent an unnecessary amount of time struggling to find merchant/tradepost/etc icons on the maps in areas I was unfamiliar with, only to miss them because a “commander” was standing at the location and his icon was obstructing the other icons. That’s not a good design.

All i want is the option to turn it off.

I can ignore them on chat , cause i dont follow commander orders anyway , but i cant take them off my map.

To get around the idea of being a good leader/bad leader, perhaps the commander title should be voted in.

i.e. if you get 100 people to support you cause to be a commander, you get the title.

I don’t mind seeing commander icons in towns. Yes it is a status symbol. But it can also be very useful when hosting community events.

Mad Queen Malafide.7512:

I don’t mind seeing commander icons in towns. Yes it is a status symbol. But it can also be very useful when hosting community events.

It’s not a status symbol, it’s a “look at me I’m an attention w$%@ who wasted a lot of money” symbol. It’s been too abused to be any kind of positive status symbol.

I also don’t see much reason for this icon outside of WvW.

Well, if I don’t get to form squads and help in meta PvE events, then I expect a full refund.

I have seen so many silly trolling “commanders” in the game. They have no idea how (or intention) to lead the fights . What was the reason I began to ignore the commander thing in WvWvW all together.

The whole commander thing need to be reworked.
But until then …

Please Add an option that will let us hide commanders icon from the map and minimap.

I don’t play WvWvW and I don’t want to see the commanders crowds interfere with my PVE map having their icons overlap the important Points of Interest I am actually looking for.

if you block someone who is a commander does that remove the silly icon?

If I see a blue diamond above your head I automatically assume you’re a rich unpleasant person. Nothing more, nothing less. Just saying.

It’s like the 18th Century again: Officer buy their commissions. Every time I see a blue icon I think of Henry Simmerson from Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe books. Of the ‘commanders’ on my server, I’m aware of only one that’s displayed any aptitude for the role.

I wouldn’t mind commander icons anywhere if I didn’t know anyone who has a lot of money(in game or in real life) can get it without ever entering WvW. I think commander titles should be earned with the Realm Avenger title or another thing that measures your skill and experience in WvW.

Personally, I always felt like the commander should have been tied to guild influence as a buyable upgrade in the art of war tree.

Put it as a rank 3 upgrade, unlocked as a slot in the guild interface. Have it cost a good amount (5-10k) influence, and allow guilds to only assign one commander at a time.

Thus, when you see a commander you know that at the very least they’ve either solo-guildfarmed a massive amount of inf (for a solo player) that they would have a good understanding of PvE event chains or WvW operations, or they’re in a guild that can field a few people, enough so that they would presumably have a ready supply of guildmates to command so you’d more often be joining an actual squad that’s already been formed than simply joining some random guy that managed to burn 100 gold.

I agree that the “commander” status has lost it’s meaning. It does give a certain accomplishment to players who spend 100g to stand out in game. In any mmorpgs, something that hardcore players want is to stand out from the rest.

100g is not a simple task to accomplish. I still feel those who acquire the commander status have made efforts to earn it and deserved to be admired. Although I also feel that it shouldn’t be titled as “commander” but other titles that are related to wealth or heroic status. What the game should had done since the beginning is to make commander title earned only by WvWvW means. Something like popularity polls or votes by WvWvW guild players. Similar to elections.

Commader should not be for coins but rather honor badges from WvW. That’s it.

However they get it, I’d prefer not to see it.
Being able to disable it on the minimap, like we can now with other things, would be great.

PopeUrban.2578:

Personally, I always felt like the commander should have been tied to guild influence as a buyable upgrade in the art of war tree.

Put it as a rank 3 upgrade, unlocked as a slot in the guild interface. Have it cost a good amount (5-10k) influence, and allow guilds to only assign one commander at a time.

Thus, when you see a commander you know that at the very least they’ve either solo-guildfarmed a massive amount of inf (for a solo player) that they would have a good understanding of PvE event chains or WvW operations, or they’re in a guild that can field a few people, enough so that they would presumably have a ready supply of guildmates to command so you’d more often be joining an actual squad that’s already been formed than simply joining some random guy that managed to burn 100 gold.

Um just to point out you can buy guild influence. 20 gold is 10k.

Not a bad idea though other than that.

Commander should be renamed to Gold Hoarder tied to Golden title and merged with this achievement. Make the icon gold not blue and visible to owner only.
Skill in farming for gold or using credit card. That is what commander truly mean at the moment.

Just give people the option to toggle the icon on their maps etc. It’s a win-win. There’s no reason to change anything else.

. . .and the bigotry in this thread is crazy

bloodletting wolf.2837:

I agree with being able to turn it off from my end. It didn’t bother me to see it for no reason a month ago – now its starting to get annoying.

I remember thinking “OMG WHAT IS THAT, WHY IS IT POPPING UP ON THE MAP” and endlessly chasing what i thought were very special npcs, only to find out that they were commanders. Now there are just way too many people showing it off.

For me, i’d love to get the commander thing, if only for a personal RP reason. I’m glad that i’d be able to turn off the icon, i wouldnt want to add to the giant mess that is currently the commanders extreme.

The commander icon should ONLY show up in WvWvW
The commander icon should ONLY be rewarded for doing something with in WvWvW.

It should not be purchasable through gold. They should refund everyone who has a commander icon currently and redesign the system.

The current system is completely asinine.

I think that they should be able to be used outside of WvWvW. When used properly they can be useful for organizing groups. (I don’t have one but I have participated in events where they were used properly).

I don’t think they should show up inside towns that are not involved in events at all.

The minimap clutter is obnoxious. People should be able to toggle that off.

It would be cool if /ignore would toggle it off. Then if you wanted to be able to view some commanders and not others, you could do so.

Heh, I usually got commander on in LA, but that’s usually because I just got out of wvw, [forgot to turn it off,] and currently queuing for another borderlands.

I can see it being a problem in the near future, however. I can already see it. 20 blue dots on the map

no reason why it shouldn’t auto toggle off in places like LA where there is no combat. Yes it can be useful on the orr maps but no need for LA commanders (or any of the starting towns)

i honestly dont see why people cry over this, unless your jealous of 100G, i think people just need to get over it, it’s the same cries in LA by only .1% of the population each day, the rest are like big whoop..why do we care if some1 spent that much dosh?, “so you stare at your mini-map to let it annoy you?”….also i’d rather follow a commander on a karma train, then a nobody..and yes some people start karma trains in LA, so grow up and move on, or DONT look at your mini map anymore, it’s threads like this that should be trashed upon creation…expecially when alot more important stuff need attention.

It was previously stated by Anet that they would adjust the costs of the Commanders Compendium to deal with saturation and I’m pretty sure that time is now. Sorry for the tangent.

- – - -

I don’t pay any attention to anything a “commander” says, in WvW or out. It’s such a stupid, overly abused system. Something like this should have to be earned with a LOT of success in WvW, not just bought.

IDEA:

Make it cost Badges. Account Bound, meaning that you can’t buy them up, and make it an arbitrarily high amount to avoid Puzzle Farmers getting it without a lot of effort. I’m talking something like the amount for a Legendary Weapon (500, isn’t it?). In fact, I’d also alter those puzzles to only give 1-3 Badges, not (1-2)(1-2)(1-2). Effectively halving the rate at which people can get it from puzzles, discouraging it as a way to farm them.

AND… still include a fee. Not 100 gold, since the REAL cost is in badges, but let’s say 10 gold – a decent sum, to prove that a person wants this badly enough.

Will this stop saturation? I don’t know. It depends on the number of badges required. What it WILL do is make sure that people are required to participate in WvW in order to get Commander status.

I do see value in the status of Commander, when a competent player is using it as it was intended. It serves as a rallying point, for WvW battles or major dynamic events. But I also agree that there are many who are purchasing it solely for value as a “status symbol”.

Lastly: I support the idea of a “commander icon filter” among the various map symbol filters.

VanderBeltLegacy.4736:

i honestly dont see why people cry over this, unless your jealous of 100G, i think people just need to get over it, it’s the same cries in LA by only .1% of the population each day, the rest are like big whoop..why do we care if some1 spent that much dosh?, “so you stare at your mini-map to let it annoy you?”….also i’d rather follow a commander on a karma train, then a nobody..and yes some people start karma trains in LA, so grow up and move on, or DONT look at your mini map anymore, it’s threads like this that should be trashed upon creation…expecially when alot more important stuff need attention.

Let me guess, you own a commander icon and wouldn’t know where to begin in WvW right? Worried your pseudo status icon will become invisible? I suggest you ‘get over it’ and start farming something else to make yourself look self important.

Right from the beginning this thread read as nothing but some cranky WvW elitists trying to control a system that’s working just fine. I refrained from mentioning it, and I’m sorry, but Catisa’s reponse is making the case.

VanderBelt is right, just calm down. The title isn’t out of control and no one is taking advantage of anything. Having some blue icon over your character and displayed on everyone’s minimap doesn’t actually effect a kitten thing. This topic is blown out of proportion. Need I remind you, it’s just a video game.

Still, I can understand how strung-out some people can get. Just look at how much hate the Halloween puzzle received, and in the history of video games, that puzzle rates as some of the easier content one could play. So again, to compromise for those very few who can’t take looking at a blue icon – just implement the option to toggle it on and off. Voila. That’s all that really needs to be done.

Catisa.6507:

VanderBeltLegacy.4736:

i honestly dont see why people cry over this, unless your jealous of 100G, i think people just need to get over it, it’s the same cries in LA by only .1% of the population each day, the rest are like big whoop..why do we care if some1 spent that much dosh?, “so you stare at your mini-map to let it annoy you?”….also i’d rather follow a commander on a karma train, then a nobody..and yes some people start karma trains in LA, so grow up and move on, or DONT look at your mini map anymore, it’s threads like this that should be trashed upon creation…expecially when alot more important stuff need attention.

Let me guess, you own a commander icon and wouldn’t know where to begin in WvW right? Worried your pseudo status icon will become invisible? I suggest you ‘get over it’ and start farming something else to make yourself look self important.

no commander title, not even close to the gold needed, i just dont let some1 elses icon/IN GAME MONEY/Out of Game Money, bother me and have seen how useful they can be when some 1 starts a karma train…why is it, when some1 has no problem with something, your kind AUTO assume we have it?…. WvW is easy, 12 chimps could zerg on there and play.. to begin in WvW=i call out, zerg grp starting meet here ping WP/PoI and tell them to also bring supplies, then i ask where every 1 wants to start, and go by majority vote, then we make out way to the attack, i put a ram at gate(etc), and i havent got a commander title….so again you just sound jealous and angry over nothing….and on top of that fail at your “attack” since i dont have the title, nor the cash. K, THNX, Bye.

Nels the Cornwhisperer.8025:

If you see it being used as a status symbol, simply remind yourself that 100g is a few hours of real world work, gem store, and currency exchange, and that anyone, even a homeless person buying alcohol for underage people, can come up with the real world money to buy it in a very short period of time.

The rate of exchange right now is about 3 gold for 600 gems. That means that getting 100 gold through cash shop needs you to buy 19800 gems, which is approximately 330 euro. That is about the 5.5x of the retail cost the game, twice the cost of the collector’s edition.

I think that having the option to turn it off yourself only treats a symptom, not the root problem. That also introduces a new problem, you will entirely cease paying attention to who is a commander. If you are playing in WvW, you need to be willing to work together with your entire server, not just your friends. A good commander can do much good, and it helps to have an awareness that one is trying to coordinate at such a level. So I do not want a user-end option.

The root problem is what needs to be solved. I think half of that will be solved when we get a “real” squad interface in the future. And such a feature will improve its genuine usefulness, and help it flourish in PvE as well (Orr has plenty of reason for Commander usage).

The other major problem, as has been pointed out repeatedly since launch, is that there’s no correlation between spending 100g and being able to lead. The price is definitely a good barrier to thin availability, but there has to be better barriers.

More to what initiated the topic, my spite for commanders sitting in Lion’s Arch has turned to humor. The outcome is so simple: every “commander” in Lion’s Arch naturally loses my respect. Thus if I do ever see them in WvW, I’ll hold low expectations of that person and look to others instead.

Commander status does make that person stand out. Be mindful of that being double-edged, it’s easier to track their name and performance when wearing that icon. So I’m memorizing both people that have performed reasonably, and people that have earned ignoring.

So again, I don’t think user-end disabling is a solution to any problem. The future will have adjustments that do more than that option.

I want to see a voting system, but this topic hasn’t the room to expand into that idea.